CAMPAIGNERS will march from Barwell to Hinckley to protest against a massive extension of their village.

It follows a poll last month which saw 1,600 people slam the plans, voting against 2,500 homes and infrastructure on the village’s doorstep.

There are also early plans to set up a public meeting with Barwell councillors.

Huw Williams is organising the march from the centre of the village to the home of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council in Argents Mead, and expects details to be in place within the next four to six weeks.

He said it would give people from outside of the area a chance to show their opposition to the increase in traffic they claim the extra development could see.

“It is a protest march because we have been rail roaded into this development without proper consultation,” Mr Williams said.

“For a long time people have been telling us they don’t want this development to go through - it is time the council listened.”

Only 63 people voted in favour of the extension - nicknamed Dumpwell by villagers against the development - in the parish poll, giving a total of 1,663 voters.

That still means less than 25% of the electorate turned out.

Repeating earlier words, leader of the borough council Stuart Bray said the march would be a waste of time as the planning committee cannot take public opinion into account and have to base decisions on material considerations such as highway safety.

“Why did he [Mr Williams] not plan a protest march in 2006 when his Conservative friends were in power?” Cllr Bray said.

“That’s when the plans were first mooted and that’s when he should have made a protest.

“And secondly, I suggest that he is wasting his energy and would be better off marching to London where he can meet his Conservative friends in the ministry.”

While plans progress for the public march, Barwell Residents’ Association is also attempting to set up a public meeting between villagers and local councillors.

Rob Taylor, from the association, invited councillors Mathew Hulbert and David Gould to set a date for a meeting.

He said: “This is the residents’ association responding to the lack of action and attention that has been paid to the parish poll and the fact that also the borough council has not held a single meeting to consult with residents.

“There have been consultations by the developers but that only gives you the chance to write down your opinion and then you never hear anything back.

“Our stance is that if they have the courage of their convictions they will come and speak to the public.”

Cllr Gould, who sits on both the borough council and Barwell Parish Council, said he would be delighted to hold a public meeting, but suggested waiting until the autumn when more information about the associated infrastructure will be available.

Cllr Hulbert said: “There has been 29 different bits of consultation and I did go to speak and listen to people at the last public meeting called by the Tory group at the borough council, as did Cllr Gould.

“If they really want us to have a situation where we make laws based on what 25% of the population think, while we absolutely respect the views of those people, then they are crazy.”